Planning & budgeting Tips for surviving the holiday season
We asked you to share your top money-saving and organisational tips to help make Christmas as stress-free as possible – and boy, did you deliver! We gathered some of your cleverest tricks to create this tried-and-tested festive cheat sheet
My wife and I gift each other an experience. This year we took the family to Kapiti Island. The whole family got to enjoy our gift, and we didn’t have to pay for it at Christmas time when money was tighter. All I had to do was think about what would be a meaningful experience for my wife, and surprise her with the idea on Christmas day. We then had 12 months to make it happen.
Hayden Baylis Instead of gifts, we each buy something fancy and delicious that we wouldn’t normally buy (like a sauce, expensive cheese or decadent chocolate) to contribute to the family feasts.
It’s cheaper and easier than buying everyone an individual gift, and we’re all foodies so it ticks a few boxes!
@brit_ningham
Pay in cash wherever you can. It’s easy to get caught up in credit cards and overspend, even if it’s just an extra $10 or $20. It all adds up and, before you know it, you will have blown your budget. Dianne Nel
We do a $20 secret Santa, and I buy things like preserves from our school fair. @ang__nz Get creative and make something unique, like a pot plant, and decorate it to make it special.
@catherineee91 GrabOne vouchers! It’s always good to give experiences rather than things. @shelleycarolm
I buy secondhand toys for my son on Trade Me or Facebook Marketplace. He doesn’t know the difference between new and secondhand.
@clairet0620 Instead of buying for all our nieces and nephews we buy a board game for each family. Saves money and creates family time!
@lisasheaandco The key is shopping at stores with knowledgeable assistants, where you know your family members like to shop. My mum’s favourite gift store has the most wonderful assistant. She remembers what my mum has her eye on or knows her taste so can point out what she would like. @rachelmartinx
Once I have decided on my Christmas list, I compare prices online. But before I go through checkout, I do a thorough search for any online discount codes or coupons that might be floating around, or I look to see if there is an email list or newsletter I can sign up to in exchange for a first-time discount. You can save 10-20 per cent just by taking that extra couple of minutes before entering your credit card details! Andrea N Fry
In July, I draw up a grid with all the people I need to buy for. I jot down any ideas I have for them and do lots of online window-shopping to get more ideas and keep an eye on prices, so I know how much I’m spending and where the best deals are. @kiwi_cottage_life
I use an app on my phone to collect present ideas for family members throughout the year. Then I make a comprehensive list before hitting the shops. @sarahjleov
I use Laybuy and Afterpay to make Christmas shopping easier with manageable payments, and buy throughout the year. I also buy presents that’ll be used all through summer, like togs, a beach towel or boogie board. Lisa Green
We have the barest minimum budget – so for Christmas lunch, I combined with a couple of people who would otherwise be on their own, and each of us contributed one main and one dessert item. It took the pressure off me trying to provide a feast and gave a little Christmas cheer to others who would’ve otherwise spent a lonely day.
Sarah Rowland Our family has a tradition of ‘the Christmas pig’. We have a piggy bank that we add to every week.
The cash is kept safe until the middle of November, when we can break it open!
Amanda Deans
Often those who are coming for Christmas want to contribute food, but it’s nuts to travel with food or brave the supermarket on Christmas Eve, so we request they spend the equivalent amount on a supermarket voucher so we don’t have to worry about the shopping for a couple of weeks (while the bank balance recovers). I also make sure I have pizza bases in the freezer as it’s a great way to use up leftovers. @jessie_fleur1981
We are having a combined family garage sale this year… We all pitch in unwanted goods and the money goes towards Christmas breakfast/ lunch. So our host this year (Mum) won’t be stressing about money. Nikki Gisby
During the year, each member of our immediate family puts $5 a week into a shared account. This then gets used in December to buy the food and drinks for Christmas Day, and anything extra. Amelia Norgrove
Christmas club at your local supermarket is a must. I don’t miss a small amount each week, and it’s really good at Christmas time and makes the food shop easier. Stacey Hanright At the beginning of the year, I start an automatic payment to go into an account that I cannot transfer money from online, and start putting in $10 a week. Marie Barrett
Our bank has a ‘save the change’ option. Every time you swipe your Eftpos card, it rounds your purchase up to a designated amount and pops the rounded-up amount in your account. At the end of the year it buys all our family presents and usually a good portion of our Christmas food. Megan Walters
Start a ‘Christmas cupboard’ in your kitchen where you stock up on 2-3 non-perishable items each time you do a supermarket shop. Write a list of the items you want to stock up on and tick them off each time you add to the cupboard/freezer so you cover everything. By the time Christmas rolls around, you’ve filled the cupboard. Gillian Burton
I buy strawberries when they are cheap in the month before Christmas and make sorbet with them so we have that burst of flavour on the day without the huge cost. Megan Kingston-Burke When packing up from Christmas, wrap your Christmas lights around an old paper-towel tube. No more untangling Christmas lights every year. Victoria Bates
I take a cute family photo of the kids. I then get personalised cards printed at Warehouse Stationery for about 10 cents each – can’t beat that! Jacqui Bath
I always buy Christmas wrapping paper that isn’t Christmassy eg plain colours, spots etc, and then I can use the paper all year round.
Kelly Blackie I always cook dishes that maximise leftovers and use them in the coming days, giving me more time to enjoy Christmas and less time stuck in the kitchen. Selina Wyeth
Start buying early but don’t wrap until just before Christmas, so you know what you have got everyone and you don’t over-shop!
@oliviamaysnowden